The WULCA consensus characterization model for water scarcity footprints: assessing impacts of water consumption based on available water remaining (AWARE)

dc.contributor.authorBoulay, Anne-Marie
dc.contributor.authorBare, Jane
dc.contributor.authorBenini, Lorenzo
dc.contributor.authorBerger, Markus
dc.contributor.authorLathuillière, Michael J.
dc.contributor.authorManzardo, Alessandro
dc.contributor.authorMargni, Manuele
dc.contributor.authorMotoshita, Masaharu
dc.contributor.authorNúñez, Montserrat
dc.contributor.authorPastor, Amandine Valerie
dc.contributor.authorRidoutt, Bradley
dc.contributor.authorOki, Taikan
dc.contributor.authorWorbe, Sebastien
dc.contributor.authorPfister, Stephan
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-28T13:47:39Z
dc.date.available2018-05-28T13:47:39Z
dc.date.issued2017-06-08
dc.description.abstractPurpose Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to assess freshwater-related impacts according to a new water footprint framework formalized in the ISO 14046 standard. To date, no consensus-based approach exists for applying this standard and results are not always comparable when different scarcity or stress indicators are used for characterization of impacts. This paper presents the outcome of a 2-year consensus building process by the Water Use in Life Cycle Assessment (WULCA), a working group of the UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, on a water scarcity midpoint method for use in LCA and for water scarcity footprint assessments. Methods In the previous work, the question to be answered was identified and different expert workshops around the world led to three different proposals. After eliminating one proposal showing low relevance for the question to be answered, the remaining two were evaluated against four criteria: stakeholder acceptance, robustness with closed basins, main normative choice, and physical meaning. Results and discussion The recommended method, AWARE, is based on the quantification of the relative available water remaining per area once the demand of humans and aquatic ecosystems has been met, answering the question “What is the potential to deprive another user (human or ecosystem) when consuming water in this area?” The resulting characterization factor (CF) ranges between 0.1 and 100 and can be used to calculate water scarcity footprints as defined in the ISO standard. Conclusions After 8 years of development on water use impact assessment methods, and 2 years of consensus building, this method represents the state of the art of the current knowledge on how to assess potential impacts from water use in LCA, assessing both human and ecosystem users’ potential deprivation, at the midpoint level, and provides a consensus-based methodology for the calculation of a water scarcity footprint as per ISO 14046.en
dc.identifier.eissn1614-7502
dc.identifier.urihttps://depositonce.tu-berlin.de/handle/11303/7878
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-7038
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subject.ddc690 Hausbau, Bauhandwerkde
dc.subject.otherimpact assessmenten
dc.subject.otherLCIAen
dc.subject.otherlife cycle assessmenten
dc.subject.otherUNEP-SETAC life cycle initiativeen
dc.subject.otherwater consumptionen
dc.titleThe WULCA consensus characterization model for water scarcity footprints: assessing impacts of water consumption based on available water remaining (AWARE)en
dc.typeArticleen
dc.type.versionpublishedVersionen
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.doi10.1007/s11367-017-1333-8en
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.issue2en
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.journaltitleThe international journal of life cycle assessmenten
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.originalpublishernameSpringeren
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.originalpublisherplaceBerlin, Heidelbergen
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.pageend378en
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.pagestart368en
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.volume23en
tub.accessrights.dnbfreeen
tub.affiliationFak. 3 Prozesswissenschaften::Inst. Technischen Umweltschutz::FG Technischer Umweltschutz / Sustainable Engineeringde
tub.affiliation.facultyFak. 3 Prozesswissenschaftende
tub.affiliation.groupFG Technischer Umweltschutz / Sustainable Engineeringde
tub.affiliation.instituteInst. Technischen Umweltschutzde
tub.publisher.universityorinstitutionTechnische Universität Berlinen

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